One of Wall Street’s most prominent banks is opening its doors wide to crypto for retail clients. Morgan Stanley has completed the rollout of direct Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Solana trading on its E*TRADE brokerage platform, charging a 0.50% fee per transaction for eligible clients. While crypto was previously synonymous with crypto-native apps, the three assets can now be purchased directly from the same brokerage account where investors hold their stocks.
Yet that 0.50% fee is only on the surface. What is more noteworthy is how far Morgan Stanley has already advanced in building an entire crypto ecosystem behind the scenes.
From May Pilot to Full Release
The full rollout follows a pilot program that kicked off in May 2026. The service is now available to all eligible E*TRADE clients - a significant leap following plans first announced by Morgan Stanley in 2025. Behind the scenes, the crypto infrastructure is powered by Zerohash, which also custodies assets in linked client accounts. For now, the offering is limited to trading and custody, with crypto deposit and withdrawal features planned for later this year.
Interestingly, this setup is temporary. Later this year, E*TRADE plans to transition its crypto services from Zerohash to Morgan Stanley Digital Trust - a national trust bank being established by the group. Morgan Stanley has submitted an application for a crypto-focused national trust bank charter to the OCC (Office of the Comptroller of the Currency), joining the likes of Coinbase, Crypto.com, and Ripple, which have already secured conditional approvals. Circle, the issuer of the USDC stablecoin, has also received similar green lights alongside BitGo, Fidelity, and Paxos.
ETFs, Bitcoin Reserves, and Lending Channels
Spot trading is only one angle. Morgan Stanley is also gearing up to add two ETFs tied to Ethereum and Solana - amended S-1 filings indicate a launch is imminent, though an exact date has yet to be confirmed. Earlier this year, the group had already launched a spot Bitcoin ETF, becoming the first bank to offer such a product; the fund amassed $384 million in net assets, according to SoSoValue data.
Even its own balance sheet is on the move. Morgan Stanley increased its reported Bitcoin reserves by roughly 1,000 BTC in just two weeks leading up to July 11, 2026, pushing its total holdings above 5,700 BTC. Meanwhile, on the wealth management side, another avenue has been open since June through a referral agreement with Galaxy Digital: high-net-worth clients can lend Bitcoin, Ether, and Solana to Galaxy in exchange for shares in spot crypto investment products, including the Morgan Stanley Bitcoin Trust.
Why This Should Be Viewed as a Complete Package
When put together - the E*TRADE rollout, the two upcoming ETFs, the Digital Trust application, and the lending referrals - it becomes clear that Morgan Stanley is not simply rolling out a single crypto product, but placing trading, investment vehicles, lending, and custody infrastructure on the table all at once. Each component remains subject to distinct eligibility requirements, fee schedules, and regulations, meaning not every client will automatically have access. However, for anyone tracking mainstream finance’s adoption of crypto, the news from E*TRADE is best understood not just as a standalone feature, but as one step in an unmistakably larger plan.
Reported by crypto.news.
Also read: How to Read Candlesticks for Beginners
Disclaimer: This article is for informational and educational purposes only, not financial advice. Cryptocurrency assets are highly volatile and carry significant risk. Always do your own research (DYOR) and never invest more than you can afford to lose.
